DAR ES SALAAM: THE Coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa said the negative effects of foreign-owned human rights organizations are becoming evident as they struggle to operate following funding cuts or withdrawals by certain countries.
Speaking at a meeting in Dar es Salaam on February 28, 2025, which brought together various leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to discuss ways to achieve self-sustainability without relying on foreign donors, Ole Ngurumwa noted that some philanthropic organizations in the country have begun transitioning into local entities.
“All development projects in the country are owned by foreign organizations—projects in health, education, and governance are all managed by foreign entities. What are the consequences? We have started seeing them recently, for example, with Trump,” said Ole Ngurumwa.
The Donald Trump administration’s decision to terminate 90 percent of USAID’s foreign aid contracts affected humanitarian projects worldwide.
Health groups, non-governmental organizations, and others who received money from the U.S. aid agency to do good work had been bracing for bad news since President Donald Trump’s executive order froze the funding for a 90-day review on January 20 this year.
But even those who feared the worst were stunned by the extent of the permanent cuts announced Wednesday, barely a month into the review.
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Ole Ngurumwa further emphasized that over 70 percent of development projects in Tanzania are implemented by CSOs, but they continue to face significant financial challenges. 90 percent of the work done by these organizations is carried out without sufficient resources.
“Civil society organizations, particularly those working directly with communities, have faced many financial and capacity-related challenges. However, if you look at development projects and essential services provided to Tanzanians—such as fighting gender-based violence, legal aid, good governance, and human rights advocacy—most of these initiatives are carried out by CSOs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Remmy Lema, the THRDC’s Program Manager, highlighted that these organizations face numerous operational challenges, particularly in securing financial resources, which has led to difficulties in sustaining their activities. This meeting, he explained, was organized to explore ways of mobilizing local resources.
“These institutions face various obstacles, with one major issue being the U.S. government, under Donald Trump, cutting a substantial amount of funds that were previously allocated through USAID. As a result, many organizations are struggling to sustain themselves,” Lema stated.
He further added, “As members of the civil society, we found it necessary to convene and strategize on how to generate local resources to reduce dependency on foreign donors.”
Dr John Kalage, Executive Director of Haki Elimu, expressed that the meeting provided an opportunity to deliberate on strategies to ensure that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) continue executing their mandates by diversifying their income sources, even if foreign funding declines.
“We have come together to reflect on the direction of the resources we have been relying on to contribute to national development and how we can ensure that NGOs continue operating by seeking alternative revenue streams, which would make them more resilient even if external aid diminishes,” said Dr Kalage.
He concluded by stating, “The decisions made by the U.S. government have forced us to run instead of walk. Organizations must recognize that foreign funding is decreasing and could eventually disappear altogether. It is, therefore, essential to acknowledge this reality and take action accordingly.”
